New traffic pattern for Route 139 Lower Level
in Jersey City

Moveable barrier will be used to manage traffic during construction

(Trenton) - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today announced the start of a new traffic pattern for Route 139 Lower Level as the Pulaski Skyway rehabilitation program advances.

The $104 million Pulaski Contract 2 will repair and improve the upper and lower levels of Route 139. Route 139 links the eastern end of the Skyway to the Jersey City waterfront and New York City.

On Friday, December 13, NJDOT’s contractor, Schiavone Construction Company, is expected to close the right lane of Route 139 Lower Level eastbound during this phase of construction and use a moveable barrier system to match maximum capacity to peak travel directions.

There are currently four lanes on Route 139 Lower Level, two in each direction. With one lane being closed for construction, the moveable barrier will be used to provide two lanes in the peak travel direction and one lane in the non-peak direction during the following times:

• Two lanes will be available for motorists heading east (toward New York) from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.

• Two lanes will be available for motorists heading west, (from New York toward Newark) from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 11:00 p.m. on Fridays.

• Overnights, Monday through Thursday between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the next day, the contractor will maintain at least one lane in each direction.

• On Friday and Saturday nights from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the following day, at least one lane will be maintained in each direction.

• On Saturdays, two lanes will be maintained for motorists heading west (toward Newark) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11 p.m.

• On Sundays, two travel lanes will be provided for motorists heading west (toward Newark) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also on Sundays, between the hours of 2:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., two travel lanes will be provided to motorists heading east, (toward New York).

This contract will replace the deck on Route 139 upper level eastbound, which also is known as the Hoboken Viaduct, and replace five cross street bridges from Palisade Avenue to Kennedy Boulevard. The columns that support the upper roadway will be replaced and embedded into the rock to provide greater stability in the event of seismic activity. The retention wall on the north face also will be rehabilitated.

Other improvements to be carried out in Contract 2 of the Pulaski rehabilitation program include straightening out the Hoboken Viaduct near Palisade Avenue where it currently jogs to the left, as well as installing new sidewalks with ADA-compliant crosswalks and new traffic signals, and repaving both upper and lower levels of Route 139. A major phase of the project is the full redecking of the Conrail Viaduct, which is a short section of Route 139 lower level from approximately Kennedy Boulevard to Bevan Street that goes over railroad right of way. In addition, traffic will no longer be able to cross Route 139 at Bevan Street. This portion of the Skyway rehabilitation is expected to be complete by the end of 2016.

Contract 2 is part of the $1 billion project to rehabilitate the Pulaski Skyway, an 80-year-old elevated highway that carries 74,000 motor vehicles per day between Newark and Jersey City and serves as an express link for cars and buses between Jersey City and New York City destinations. The massive improvement project will extend the life of the Skyway by 75 years.

The program, which is being advanced through 10 separate construction contracts into the year 2020, will transform the Skyway and Route 139 from its current poor condition into one that is in a state of good repair.

Earlier this month, NJDOT announced travel options and an outreach plan for the upcoming closure of the northbound Pulaski Skyway for approximately two years, starting after the Super Bowl in 2014. The existing deck of the 3.5-mile long structure that carries Route 1&9 traffic will be replaced during this phase of the rehabilitation project. Southbound travel on the Skyway will be maintained during construction. Route 139, which is just east of the Skyway, will maintain one lower level travel lane east toward New York and two travel lanes west toward Newark at all times (except nights and weekends) while the Pulaski Skyway northbound is closed.

NJDOT created a project-specific website, www.pulaskiskyway.com, which contains a wealth of information about the Skyway project, including construction updates and information specifically about the Hoboken and Conrail Viaduct rehabilitation in Contract 2.

The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors. Motorists are encouraged to check www.511nj.org for real-time travel information.